Having Many Water Sources, BSIP Estimates Agriculture In West Java Will Not Be Too Affected By El Nino

ILLUSTRATION PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

BANDUNG - The West Java Agricultural Instrument Standardization Agency (BSIP) estimates that agriculture in West Java will not be too affected by the potential for drought due to the El Nino phenomenon.

Head of West Java BSIP Rustan Massinai said the West Java area has many water sources, including water sources from mountains, a number of dams, springs, and bore wells, which can be used to irrigate agricultural land.

"So to overcome this drought, we can seek the availability of water from various sources, not just hoping for rain," said Rustan as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, July 20.

So far, he has mentioned that a number of reservoirs such as the Jatiluhur Reservoir to the Jatigede Reservoir play an important role in supporting agricultural activities around them. Because so far the reservoirs in West Java have not experienced receding or dry water.

In addition, according to him, the areas around the mountains, the water sources so far are quite secure. So that farmers in the area are optimistic about returning to planting rice even though they have passed the harvest season.

"Well, that's why we saw that many said El Nino was something excessive. Even the farmer said this, wanted El Nino or what he wanted, we still planted it," he said.

Rustan said that currently the availability of rice in West Java is in a surplus condition, above 700 thousand tons. Therefore, he believes that the food sector in West Java is still safe despite the potential for drought.

"Hopefully it will not be too affected by drought, which he may say until the end of the year, hopefully West Java can last forever," he said.

Meanwhile, Acting Deputy for Climatology of BMKG Ardhasena Sopaheliwakan said the potential for the El Nino phenomenon had been conveyed to the government since early February 2023. El Nino had an impact on the rainfall causing drought.

Although it is still at a potential level that does not necessarily occur, according to him, information on this potential can be used by the government to increase preparedness from an early age.

"It is better to convey it from the start, than we are waiting for confirmation of the presence of the phenomenon and it is too late. So climate information always contains uncertainty, but it must be conveyed for preparedness," said Ardhasena.